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January 2019

January 1

Christ fills passing time with meaning, Pope Francis says at end of 2018

January 1, 2019

VATICAN – The end of one year and beginning of next naturally leads people to think about the passing of time and about love, which gives time -- and everything else -- real meaning, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis prays for new year marked by tenderness, peace

January 1, 2019

VATICAN – A new year is a chance for a new start, a time to remember that all people are brothers and sisters and a time to nurture amazement that God became human to save all people, Pope Francis said.

January 2

Details out on Vatican delaying U.S. bishops' vote on abuse provisions

January 2, 2019

VATICAN – The surprising news in November that the Vatican had asked U.S. bishops not to vote on several proposals for responding to the sexual abuse crisis was motivated by a lack of time given the Vatican to study the proposals and potential conflicts with church law, according to a letter obtained by the Associated Press.

Indian nuns worked to prevent farmers' suicide after Kerala floods

January 2, 2019

COCHIN, India – Ouseph Pappachan, a physically challenged farmer in flood-ravaged Kerala, said he and his wife are alive now because of Sister Regin Mathew.

January 3

Abuse crisis requires conversion, humility, Pope tells U.S. bishops

January 3, 2019

VATICAN CITY – The clerical abuse crisis and the "crisis of credibility" it created for the U.S. bishops have led to serious divisions within the U.S. Catholic Church and to a temptation to look for administrative solutions to problems that go much deeper, Pope Francis told the U.S. bishops.

January 4

Filipino bishop tells Catholics to ignore President Duterte's anti-church jabs

January 4, 2019

MANILA, Philippines – A former head of the Philippines' Catholic bishop's conference, has called on people to ignore President Rodrigo Duterte's repeated rants against the church.

Vatican confirms investigation is underway of Argentina bishop for abuse

January 4, 2019

VATICAN – A bishop from Argentina who had been working in the Vatican's real estate administration office is the object of a preliminary diocesan investigation after accusations came to light of sexual abuse, abuse of power and mismanagement in his former Diocese of Oran.

German cardinal urges change, 'review' of celibacy tradition

January 4, 2019

WASHINGTON – German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising called for change in long-standing church tradition as the German bishops' conference prepares for a workshop debate to "review" the issue of celibacy for priests.

Fifty years and counting: Serving the Church comes naturally for the Surmans

January 4, 2019

Stan Surman has officially been retired for more than 20 years, but not when it comes to his work at church.

Hysterectomy can be morally acceptable in limited situations, Vatican says

January 4, 2019

VATICAN – The Catholic Church teaches that sterilization is morally unacceptable, but a hysterectomy could be morally acceptable if the uterus could not sustain a pregnancy, said the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Readers Speak Out: December 30 – January 6, 2019

January 4, 2019

Blame the culture I salute St. Michael’s College School for their deft handling of the sexual bullying scandal. The alacrity and transparency displayed should be used as a template by all Catholic institutions.

January 5

God's Word on Sunday: Epiphany lights the way toward salvation

January 5, 2019

Epiphany of the Lord, Jan. 6 (Year C) Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

January 6

Complaint opens debate on educators' ‘Catholicity’

January 6, 2019

EDMONTON – Alberta Catholic teachers are speaking out after Education Minister David Eggen announced an investigation into whether so-called Catholicity — or morality — employment clauses are discriminatory.

January 7

Offer a gift to Jesus, care for those who cannot repay you, Pope Francis says on Epiphany

January 7, 2019

VATICAN – People find Jesus only through humble love, and once they find him, they are called to offer him the gifts of their prayer, their adoration and their care of others, Pope Francis said.

'Nationalistic tendencies' threaten world peace, dialogue, Pope Francis tells diplomats

January 7, 2019

VATICAN – As it did prior to the Second World War, the rise of nationalism in the world poses a threat to peace and constructive dialogue among nations, Pope Francis said.

Saints were 'crazy for concreteness', Pope Francis says at Mass

January 7, 2019

VATICAN – The saints were Christians who were "crazy for concreteness," knowing that faith is not an idea, but a relationship with Jesus, which leads to actions that demonstrate love, Pope Francis said.

Politicians take Pope’s message of peace to heart

January 7, 2019

In his annual World Day of Peace message, Pope Francis has some sharp words for politicians. A couple of Canadian political veterans believe the Pope’s warnings about modern politics are spot on.

Luke Stocking: There’s no need to fear UN migration compact

January 7, 2019

I was troubled to hear my Ottawa colleague describe what she saw Dec. 8 on Parliament Hill.

Pope Francis sends condolences following death of Hong Kong bishop

January 7, 2019

HONG KONG – Pope Francis has sent condolences and a blessing to the Hong Kong Diocese following the Jan. 3 death of Bishop Yeung Ming-cheung, 73, of liver failure.

Glen Argan: Teachers need to live a Catholic lifestyle

January 7, 2019

Alberta’s Catholic school system is again under fire from the province’s education minister, David Eggen. The issue this time is the “Catholicity clause” in teachers’ contracts which require teachers to agree to live a Catholic lifestyle.